Were Critics Transported by the Songs of John Denver in Almost Heaven?

Jersey Boys just opened on Sunday, but it's already time for another jukebox musical to have its chance with reviewers. Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver opened at the Promenade Theatre on November 9. Did critics leave the off-Broadway space on a rocky mountain high?

Here is a sampling of what they had to say:

William Stevenson in his Broadway.com Review: "Less exciting than the flashy Broadway newcomer Jersey Boys about the Four Seasons and less moving than the 2001 off-Broadway hit Love, Janis about Janis Joplin, Almost Heaven does offer solid renditions of Denver's country-folk songs performed by six actors who have very distinct voices… No doubt his [Denver's] diehard fans--who tend to live in the country, not New York City--will be interested. But they may also be somewhat disappointed that the arrangements stray from Denver's country-folk sound. On the other hand, people who usually don't care for country or folk music may be surprised by how many of Denver's songs they like, at least the way they are performed in Almost Heaven."

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times: "People who dislike John Denver's music, and they are many, won't like it any better after seeing Almost Heaven, a new concoction that blends almost 30 of his songs with tidbits of dialogue to create a pale imitation of a biographical musical. The real question, though, is whether people who do like Denver's music - and they, too, are many--will be bewitched. They, after all, are the main target for this lightweight, exploitative show, which opened last night at the Promenade Theater. Perhaps some will be pleased with the way it has to quote the press material 'rediscovered and reinvented' Denver's songs. Just as many, though, are likely to blanch at what is being done to some of their old favorites."

Frank Scheck of The New York Post: "John Denver wasn't exactly a hipster favorite, but his music deserves better than it gets in Almost Heaven, the latest theatrical exploitation of pop history… Almost Heaven manages to make the late singer/songwriter's music seem even cornier than it was. Denver actually wrote many great songs, and his unaffected vocal style was endearing. Not so this musical, which features some 28 numbers in a loosely connected revue that reveals little about the music and even less about the man. Conceived by Harold Thau, the show features a six-member ensemble blandly singing and smiling their way through Denver's work."

Howard Kissel of The New York Daily News: "Six winning, energetic performers sing the songs with an excellent five-piece band. One of the singers, Jim Newman, who bears a resemblance to Denver, gives us autobiographical snippets. He notes that critics have called him 'the Jimmy Stewart of folk music or the Mickey Mouse of rock 'n' roll.' We also hear some fan letters. One from China, where he performed in the '80s, is very poignant. More dramatic material--his odd, presumably unsuccessful audition for the Chad Mitchell Trio--appears in the press kit. Including it in the show might have made for a livelier time. The music is supplemented by slides on the back wall and some nice shots of an eagle soaring, a reminder of Denver's interest in flight, which led to his premature death. Even some mention of that would have lent the show some emotional depth."

Mark Blankenship of Variety: "It's hardly groundbreaking theater, but that's not the point. Like Denver, the production's goal is just to make us feel good… Simple as it is, the show's approach initially leads director Randal Myler astray. He treats the first act like an anodyne revue in Branson, Mo., so that all the performers wear big plastic smiles and wrap each other in wooden embraces… Thankfully, the problem clears up after intermission, when the social statements--and most of the spoken segments--get traded for a rousing focus on the songwriting. From this point on, orchestral and vocal arranger Jeff Waxman guides the show with surprising, splendid arrangements…When it finally focuses on his music, the show pays excellent tribute to an artist who remains great at making people feel good."

Peter Santilli of The Associated Press: "New York's latest jukebox musical, which began an open-ended run Wednesday at the Promenade Theatre, features an enthusiastic ensemble of talented singers. But with arrangements that add little to Denver's songs and a painfully bland narrative, the show amounts to little more than a sentimental--and at times drowsy--concert."